Al-Qaida spent less than $1 million on its signature 9/11 attack, but Islamic State has found an even more cost-effective way to strike on American soil , inspiring psychotic sympathizers to commit "lone wolf" attacks that blur the line between random crime and terrorism.

The dilemma the U.S. faces in Iraq is a Catch-22 situation. If the U.S. supports the Shia government of al-Maliki to dominate Iraq it will be, in one way or another, help Iran control the country and will increase the Iranian influence in the region.